Durfee boys unable to catch Taunton

With a chance to play the spoiler role in their regular season finale, the Durfee High baseball team battled to the end before dropping a 5-2 decision to Taunton at home on Saturday.

Derek VitalCorrespondent

With a chance to play the spoiler role in their regular season finale, the Durfee High baseball team battled to the end before dropping a 5-2 decision to Taunton at home on Saturday.

With two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hilltoppers sent the game-winning run to the plate. Unfortunately, T.J. Roussel grounded out to second to end the rally and Durfee’s season in the process.

“We needed a couple more hits and couldn’t come up with them,” said Durfee head coach Brad Bustin. “It’s been that way all year. Hitting has been sporadic. We’ve been unable to string a lot of hits together.”

The victory by the Tigers catapults them into the postseason. Needing wins in its final two regular season games to reach the postseason, Taunton (10-10) topped New Bedford 6-2 Friday night and took care of Durfee 14 hours later.

“We’re fortunate to come away with the win and get in (the tournament),” said Taunton head coach Jeff Sylvia. “It was a quick turnaround from last night. I’m glad we can take a collective deep breath.”

The Tigers pushed across a single run in the second on an RBI base hit by D.J. Kullas. They added four more in the third on run-scoring singles by Zach Bowden, Zach MacLean and Mike Bunker to take a 5-0 lead.

“We had the big inning where we scored four runs and then we were able to hold on,” said Sylvia. “Today I think everybody contributed 1 through 9 in the lineup.”

Following the four-run third, Bustin lifted starter Justin Martinho for J.P. Bonanca. Over the final four innings, the senior right hander blanked the Tigers allowing three hits. He walked none and struck out four.

“J.P. kept us in the game,” said Bustin. “He gave us a chance to win. For a senior to have that kind of outing today I was really happy for him.”

Durfee (7-13) scored a single run in the fifth on a base hit by Mike Correia and an RBI double by Alex Benevides cutting the Tigers’ lead to 5-1. They also added a run in the seventh when designated hitter Desmond Sanders lined an RBI single up the middle plating Martinho making the score 5-2.

Taunton starter Justin Jorge was solid in his six plus inning effort, allowing 12 hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out six. He was replaced by Max Bowden, who induced the Roussel groundout to end the game.

Benevides led the Hilltoppers offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sanders had three hits and an RBI and Correia and Martinho both had two hits and a run scored.

Zach Bowden and MacLean paced the Tigers, both going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.